When a loved one needs Medicaid to cover the costs of nursing home care for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, the application process may seem daunting. Because each state manages its own Medicaid program, the complexity and length of the application will vary from one state to the next.
Many opportunities for pitfalls can be found on a basic Medicaid application. For example, one of the most important questions that will be asked on any Medicaid application is “Do you intend to return to your home?” This question seems simple enough, but the wrong answer can cause your loved ones home to switch from an exempt asset that is not counted towards approval to a countable asset that must be sold and used towards nursing home care costs.
In the case of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, unless the stay at the nursing home is for a short period, such as following a surgery for rehabilitation, its fairly obvious that the move is the last one your loved one will make. However, failing to answer “Yes” to the question regarding intent to move home will cause the home to lose its exempt status.
The safest bet is always to sit down with an experienced Cleveland elder law attorney prior to applying for Medicaid. Your attorney can make certain that you avoid potential errors and safely address any issues that might prevent your loved one from qualifying for Medicaid before the application is filled out, saving extensive amounts of time and possible financial hardship.
